New Software Portal

I know Avidyne is working on a way to make getting software updates distributed to users and I'd like to make a recommendation.  I understand you want to have a bit more verification that the person receiving the software has logbook signature authority and this is at least partially in an attempt to prevent every owner from calling tech support and overwhelming them.  Instead of doing email/phone interaction for each update and having to do the shared dropbox folder each time, could you create a new portal that you allow an account into based on the same criteria you are using to dropbox software to people?  This way it would be a one-time verification to get an account and new software could be loaded there without repeating the process next time.  You could also use that portal to upload the paperwork once the update is finished.  I don't know how your dealer portal works, but it seems like it could be similar with only the content you want logbook authorities to have access to.  You could even link it with myAvidyne if you wanted to track things better.

My understanding is that the GPS Rollover Patch process was a test run for the new process. If so, that will be quick and painless. 

Thanks Jessesaint for posting the experience. I must say that I have some sympathy with Avidyne on updates. They are a bit between a rock and a hard place.

Well said, Vince.  I don't work for Avidyne but my B.P. goes up reading some of the crazy complaints people have around the ability to do these installs themselves.

brou0040 wrote: My opinion regarding this whole owner assisted update might be different if I had different experiences with dealers.  Maybe your opinion would change when you've had multiple units burnt by the dealer and realize that these updates are more along the lines of computer tasks than of a A&P task.

Edited by MysticCobra - 20 May 2019 at 2:16pm

For me, the issue is time. To get to a good avionics dealer with the time to install my upgrade means an hour flight each way, plus the time to wait for them to get to my plane with whatever service I need. If the plane has to stay at the dealership, then I need some way to get back home, and another arrangement to pick up the plane at the end. It is much easier to just do the upgrade myself. Sure, there may be a hardware failure - a dead SD Card is not the fault of the upgrade or installer.

I applaud Avidyne for making this portal available for the dissemination of IFD 4xx and 5xx software update packages. This places the responsibility for maintaining the software updates with the person who is also responsible for maintenance of the rest of the aircraft - the owner/operator. Hopefully other vendors will follow this lead. 

Edited by compasst - 21 May 2019 at 5:06pm

Well, that makes my question even more important.

I initially posted with a typo "49" vs "43".  I corrected it like 2 seconds after I posted, but you guys are fast!

Thank you Henry, and Steve.

$> md5sum *

190973e7175ea93fe79e68c13537ddf5  500-00205-000 GoldMaster.dsf
0dc98d7c4a7a904765f1ea8483f68487  500-00206-000 FULL UPDATE.dsf
a0751ee0c11cab6992465bf05d17f007  500-00207-000 CONFORMITY CHECKER.dsf
6d8ae0533f18b5af4e7184d6d230eb4d  601-00182-034 SERVICE BULLETIN, IFD5XX-4XX SERIES UPGRADE TO 10.2.3.1.pdf
17b89e61f6a50a069424e47ee6dbc5f2  RUNONCE

Edited by skitheo - 25 May 2019 at 7:27pm

I can confirm that the above posted MD5 values represent a successful upgrade from 10.2.0.0.A, which took 50 minutes to run. Another hour of prep and 20 minutes to check config and set up WiFi. Thanks for the A&P assisted owner install option, Avidyne!